Sukhawat Ali Khan with Cali Qawwali
San Francisco, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2016
Music
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Steeped in a sultry mysteriousness Laaj, or Divine Grace, is the latest offering by musician and vocalist Sukhawat Ali Khan. With previous recordings such as Shukriya, Shabaz, Zindagi and Taswir, as well as collaborations with the likes of DJ Cheb-I-Sabbah, movie composer James Newton Howard, Dr. Das and the band Baraka Moon and the Yuval Ron Ensemble, Mr. Khan has teamed up with bansuri master Deepak Ram, who is known for recordings like Flute for Thought, Searching for Satyam and Prasad. Backed by a group of first rate musicians, Mr. Khan takes the listener on a journey filled with the splendid delights of Indian and Pakistani music framed in with a razor’s edge of contemporary sensibilities so the music so that the music comes across as dreamily cinematic.
Mr. Khan isn’t merely content to wow fans with his vocals or harmonium playing, opting instead to flex his musical prowess by singing in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and Pashto on Laaj in tracks that range from Sufi hymns to Ghazal laments to traditional folk songs of Afghanistan. A master of the five traditions of Indian and Pakistani music: Hindustani Classical, Sufi Qawwali, Punjabi Folk and Bhangra, Geet and Ghazal, Mr. Khan dazzles on Laaj by conjuring up a sound that is simply intoxicating.
Threading tracks with the sinuous lines of Mr. Ram on bansuri, Mr. Khan crafts his sound with the help of Gurdeep Hira on table, dholak, dhol, shiana, vocals and keyboards; Aaron W. Shaul on cello, electric and double bass; Daljeet Singh on guitar and keyboards and Charles Moselle on saxophone to fashion a sound that is lush and full-bodied. Laaj opens with the lovely mystery of “Ghulam-E-Ali,” a traditional Sufi hymn in honor of Hazrat Imam Ali.
With soaring vocals and a meaty, deliciously dark undertone, Laaj give way to delicious indulgences like the guitar edged “Heer,” “Raste Juda Juda” with its plumy bansuri lines and its thread of joyful exuberance and the darkly edgy Hindi track “Chingari” from the motion picture “Amar Prem.” Fans get a dose of Bhangra with “Thand Lagdi” and “Kacha Dudh,” while tracks like “Door” and the Afghani folk tune “Anaar Anaar” shimmer with a luxuriant soulfulness.
Laaj is evocative, potent and enchanting and well worth diving headlong into. - World Music Central
Discography
- Door - 2024 (Single SunoMa)
- Jogiya - 2023 (Single with Deepak Ram) [5]
- Saaye - 2023 (Single)
- Paar Karo - 2022 (Single with Deepak Ram) [6]
- Laaj - 2013 (with Deepak Ram )[7]
- Taswir - 1998 (with the Ali Khan Band)
- Zindagi - 2000 (with the Ali Khan Band)
- Shabaz - 2001 (with Shabaz)
- Shukriya - 2007 (solo and with his Shukriya ensemble)
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Bio
Sukhawat Ali Khan is a celebrated vocalist and musician who represents the distinguished Sham Chorasi gharana (musical lineage), one of the most respected classical music traditions of the Indian subcontinent.
Family Heritage and Early Training
Sukhawat Ali Khan was born into musical royalty as the son of the legendary Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, who was widely regarded as one of the greatest classical vocalists of the 20th century from Pakistan. The Sham Chorasi lineage that Sukhawat belongs to dates back over 500 years, originally established during the time of Emperor Akbar.
As is customary in classical South Asian musical families, Sukhawat began his rigorous musical training at a very young age under his father's guidance. This traditional form of education, known as "guru-shishya parampara" (master-disciple tradition), involved intensive daily practice and immersion in the complex techniques of classical singing.
Musical Style and Expertise
Sukhawat Ali Khan is known for his mastery of several classical and semi-classical vocal forms including:
Khayal (the predominant form of North Indian classical vocal music)
Thumri (a more light-classical romantic style)
Qawwali (Sufi devotional music)
Ghazal (poetic form set to music)
Khayal (the predominant form of North Indian classical vocal music)
Thumri (a more light-classical romantic style)
Qawwali (Sufi devotional music)
Ghazal (poetic form set to music)
His singing is characterized by his extraordinary vocal range, command of intricate ornamentations (taans and murki), and emotional expressiveness. Like many artists of his generation, Sukhawat has also explored fusion music, blending traditional Pakistani and North Indian classical elements with contemporary world music influences.
Career and International Presence
After establishing himself in Pakistan and India, Sukhawat Ali Khan expanded his career internationally. He relocated to the United States, where he has been based for many years, becoming an important cultural ambassador for South Asian classical music.
His performances have graced prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including:
Major world music festivals across North America and Europe
Cultural institutions like Lincoln Center in New York
Collaborations with Western musicians across various genres
Educational workshops and residencies at universities and music schools
Major world music festivals across North America and Europe
Cultural institutions like Lincoln Center in New York
Collaborations with Western musicians across various genres
Educational workshops and residencies at universities and music schools
Recordings and Collaborations
Throughout his career, Sukhawat has released numerous recordings, both of traditional classical repertoire and more experimental fusion works. He has collaborated with various musicians, including his family members who often perform with him.
Jogiya - 2023 (Single with Deepak Ram) [5]
Saaye - 2023 (Single)
Paar Karo - 2022 (Single with Deepak Ram) [6]
Laaj - 2013 (with Deepak Ram )[7]
Taswir - 1998 (with the Ali Khan Band)
Zindagi - 2000 (with the Ali Khan Band)
Shabaz - 2001 (with Shabaz)
Shukriya - 2007 (solo and with his Shukriya ensemble)
Jogiya - 2023 (Single with Deepak Ram) [5]
Saaye - 2023 (Single)
Paar Karo - 2022 (Single with Deepak Ram) [6]
Laaj - 2013 (with Deepak Ram )[7]
Taswir - 1998 (with the Ali Khan Band)
Zindagi - 2000 (with the Ali Khan Band)
Shabaz - 2001 (with Shabaz)
Shukriya - 2007 (solo and with his Shukriya ensemble)
Cultural Significance
As one of the torchbearers of the Sham Chorasi tradition, Sukhawat Ali Khan plays an important role in preserving and evolving a centuries-old musical heritage. His performances not only showcase technical virtuosity but also convey the spiritual and emotional depth that is central to the Sufi music tradition.
His career represents the continuing vitality of South Asian classical music in the global context, maintaining traditional elements while finding relevance for contemporary international audiences.
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